Product description

Raising Responsible Teenagers combines comprehensive discussion about child development with practical advice on parenting styles and discipline techniques. Each stage of child development is discussed, creating a picture of where the child 'is at' on entering adolescence. Adolescence is the final stage of childhood, the springboard to adult life and a time where values are being blended into a mixture that parents can still greatly influence. Bob Myers provides the tools for this, such as the use of rules made and agreed on by all the family and based on the simple philosophy of 'a fair go and safety for everyone'. Being a realist, he also offers ways of handling difficult behaviour and shows how adults in the parenting role can focus control on their own parenting skills, rather than focusing just on the child. Each chapter contains useful examples and checklists for further thought, as well as a fund of useful advice. This book will provide an extremely useful guide for parents, teachers and all those who wish to interact with young people in a conflict-free atmosphere, and who wish to see them become considerate, achieving and responsible adults.

Author information

Bob Myers has, since 1979, been Director of the Brophy Memorial Hostel, where he works with young people who are either homeless or unable to live at home. Some have been severely emotionally damaged and present very challenging behaviours. Bob has adopted the radical approach that solutions to these difficult behaviours have to be found, without the option of expulsion.

Back cover copy

Adolescence is the final stage of childhood, the springboard to adult life and a time where values are being blended into a mixture that adults can still greatly influence. Raising Responsible Teenagers is a survival guide and more for all those who interact with children on a daily basis. It shows clearly and comprehensively why children behave as they do at different ages, and how they can be brought up to be responsible adults without curtailing their natural instincts or indulging them. Bob Myers uses his years of experience of working with children and adolescents to show how they can be encouraged to develop themselves. Each chapter contains detailed examples and checklists for further thought, as well as a fund of helpful advice. This book provides an extremely useful guide for all who wish to interact with young people in a relaxed and mutually-respectful manner, and who wish to see them develop into considerate, achieving and responsible adults.

Table of contents

Introduction. 1.Child Development in the early years. 2.Development during adolescence. 3.Styles of Discipline. 4.Moral Development. 5. Parenting style. 6.Externalising the rules. 7.Assertiveness. 8. Who is responsible for what? 9. Responding to irresponsible behaviour. 10.Changing children's behaviour. 11.Introducing teenagers to reality. 12.Punishment. 13.Managing difficult behaviour. 14.Consequences. 15.Parenting is a community responsibility. Index.